Posted on 07/30/2009 8:51:14 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, has been drawn into a row over its decision to publish common responses to the 10 Rorschach inkblots.
The plates were created by the Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach for his book "Psychodiagnostik," published in 1921. Because they were made more than 90 years ago their US copyright has lapsed.
However, psychologists have complained that publishing the inkblots and responses is the equivalent to putting answers to school exams on the internet.
"The only winners seem to be those for whom this issue has become personal, and who see this as a game in which victory means having their way," one Wikipedia poster named Faustian wrote on Monday, adding, "Just don't pretend you are doing anything other than harming scientific research."
Initially Wikipedia had just one of the inkblots online, but the row intensified in June, when James Heilman, an emergency-room doctor from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, posted images of all 10 plates to the bottom of the article about the test, along with what research had found to be the most popular responses for each.
"I just wanted to raise the bar whether one should keep a single image on Wikipedia seemed absurd to me, so I put all 10 up," Dr.
Heilman said in an interview. "The debate has exploded from there." Psychologists have registered with Wikipedia to argue that the site is jeopardising one of the oldest continuously used psychological assessment tests.
The plates have appeared on other websites, but it was not until they showed up on the popular Wikipedia site that psychologists became concerned.
"The more test materials are promulgated widely, the more possibility there is to game it," said Bruce L. Smith, a psychologist and president of the International Society of the Rorschach and Projective Methods, who has posted
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
No hiding inkblots that looks like the downtown cash-n-prizes from THE INTERTUBES!!!!
Without the data set collected over the years, who cares?
I see demons, and they’re all on a certain side of the aisle.
To me that looks like someone in an Easter Bunny suit lying in chocolate.
Does that make me mentally ill?
Does that make me mentally ill?
Almost any sufficiently clever person could game a psych test if he or she wished. Ninety years — and nobody has produced any new and improved ink blots? Isn’t that a bit ossified for a “science”?
I remember a book called “Big Secrets” published back in the 80’s which revealed the common answers to these tests as well as common interpretations of each answer by psychologists.
I would love to see two of those, simultaneously, in person or after they blot the paper with chocolate.
Does it talk to you? And more importantly, do you answer?
Two women or two strawberries? I don’t see either, so...yeah. Off to the re-education camp for you.
No, but I think someone murdered the bunny and he’s floating in a pool of chocolate, face down.
Easter bunny with double Bart Simpson head bursting through a pair of chocolate chickens?
Yes! She doesn't have any whipped cream on the strategic places... ;)
Looks like someone spilled their ink on a blotter to me. Maybe it was the new kid, Rorschach, he was always spilling stuff.
Someone find the Cadbury bunny! There’s your culprit.
Great book.
O.kayyyyy then. You’re not nuts but no more week end passes for you.
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